Surgery without anesthesia. I can watch beheadings and eviscerations in horror movies all day, but let a doctor with a scalpel approach someone and I am GONE!

The Fool:

Make a confession.

jabberwock:

I almost said "necrophilia" instead of "narcolepsy" on national television. Leave me in my shame.

The Fool:

Would you rather be remembered as a person, a legend, or a myth?

jabberwock:

I'd like my close friends and family to remember be as a person, my ex-girlfriends to remember me as a legend, and the rest of humanity to worship me as a god.

The Fool:

Who killed Kennedy?

jabberwock:

Which Kennedy are we talking about here?

The Fool:

Which celebrity or public figure (past or present) do you most look like?

jabberwock:

Some people have told me I look a bit like JFK, Jr., although I truly don't see any resemblance myself. And once someone told me I looked like that guy Alfonso or Alonzo or whatever his name is on the TV series <I>Little House on the Prairie</I>. Whatever happened to him anyway?

The Fool:

What's the strangest thing you've ever seen?

jabberwock:

Los Angeles.

The Fool:

What, in your opinion, are some of life's big mysteries?

jabberwock:

Why did I think that Santiago and not La Paz was the highest-altitude national capital in the world?

The Fool:

Briefly review your favorite book.

jabberwock:

<I>Men, Women, and Chain Saws</I> by Carol Clover is a feminist critique of horror films. Instead of mindlessly bashing them as woman-hating pornography with no redeeming social value, she delves deep into their themes to show that they're really exercises in gender redefinition. Fascinating reading if you can wade through all the lit-crit jargon.

The Fool:

Is there someone you'd like to say 'Thank You' to, but never really had the chance?

jabberwock:

Every single teacher I've ever had has inspired me to go farther, do better, and reach higher. Without them, I would be nothing. So, thank you all!

The Fool:

Okay Gilligan (or Ginger), you're stuck on a deserted island. What one material possession would you hope to have with you?

jabberwock:

A pen and paper, so I can finally write my autobiography, a volume of essays, and the Great American Novel!

The Fool:

Describe the most embarrassing personal moment you'll admit to!

jabberwock:

Learning the hard way that in France, you don't eat with your hand in your lap, as it's considered "dirty". Even worse, this happened at my host's huge family reunion.

Earning a four-year full scholarship to any undergraduate institution I wanted. I couldn't have gone to college without it, and to me that was direct proof that hard work and determination will get you anywhere.

The Fool:

Your most heroic moment in life?

jabberwock:

Appearing on the game show Jeopardy. I'll especially never forget my third game, when I was behind by over $3,000 going into Double Jeopardy, and then ended up being unbeatable. (My nemesis Brian Frates was an incredible, gutsy player, though, and I'm glad I'll never have to play him again!) Next stop: MILLIONAIRE!!!!

The Fool:

Tell us about Your Dumbest Investment.

jabberwock:

Casino Magic (CMAG), which I bought doing absolutely no research whatever. Thanks to beginners luck, I still managed to double my money in five months, when I realized how Wise I was investing in something I knew nothing about.

The Fool:

If given a second chance, what financial decision would you have made differently?

jabberwock:

Investing earlier!!! Up until 1996, the business section of the paper just bored me. Now it's the most fascinating bit. And I would NEVER EVER have signed up for a credit card.

The Fool:

What's your greatest talent?

jabberwock:

I love anything to do with words: writing, philology, foreign languages... and I like to think I have some talent in my writing.

Tell us what your best investment has been so far and how you discovered it.

jabberwock:

Ballard Power Systems (BLDP). I bought in on the first trading day of 2000 at around 28-ish, and as of October it's gone up approximately fourfold.

The Fool:

When you aren't working or sitting in front of the computer, what occupies your time?

jabberwock:

I'm pretty notorious for skipping from one interest to another. But movies and books have always been a constant in my life. At various times, I've also swum competitively, taken ballroom dancing lessons, and tried my hand (and foot) at kickboxing.